Latinas in American Politics

Changing and Embracing Political Tradition

Foreword by Carol Hardy-Fanta Contributions by Tony Affigne, Ivy A. M. Cargile, John Garcia, Sarah Allen Gershon, Lizeth Gonzalez, Julia Marin Hellwege, Samantha L. Hernandez, Patricia D. Lopez, Jose Marichal, Jennifer L. Merolla, Jessica Lavariega Monforti, Leslie A. Navarro, Sharon A. Navarro, Jean Reith Schroedel, Christine Marie Sierra, Juan Urbano, Walter Clark Wilson Edited by Sharon A. Navarro, Samantha L. Hernandez, Leslie A. Navarro

Not available to order

Publication date:

12 May 2016

Length of book:

262 pages

Publisher

Lexington Books

ISBN-13: 9781498533362

The challenges that women face as political candidates can be compounded by race. In the case of Latinas, stereotypes as well as national media coverage and labeling of “Latino” issues potentially creates an electoral burden for Latina candidates at the local, state, and national level. The intersection of race and gender is complicated and often creates more questions than it answers. How are Latinas elected? Are they served by this complex identity or hindered by it? Latinas in American Politics: Embracing and Changing Political Tradition begins addressing the issues by examining the stereotypes Latinas face while running for political office. More specifically, the perception of voters on ideological standings of Latinas provides insight as to what party Latinas are identified with and how they can use this to their advantage. In addition to establishing the role stereotypes play in the electability of Latinas, the way they use and diffuse these stereotypes via campaigns is examined. The images that Latinas present and how they interact with voters via social media establishes a new dynamic in campaigning and allows for theory building in the area of race, gender, and campaigns. Aside from campaigning, party identification for a Latina creates a different barrier. How do Latinas bridge this? Case studies of prominent Latina officials are examined to understand within which contexts and under what conditions Latinas as candidates and as elected officials will experience intersectionality as advantage and disadvantage. Finally, the examination of Latina congressional members shows whether and how the intersection of gender and ethnicity in descriptive representation contributes uniquely to patterns of substantive representation. Ultimately, this volume demonstrates how the intersection of race and gender creates unique situations for representation and electability of candidates.

Foreword, Carol Hardy-Fanta
Introduction
Part 1. National Elections:Beliefs, Campaign Strategies, Electability, and Legislative Strength
Chapter 1: Is there a Gender Divide: Exploring Latinas’ Political Worlds and the Intersectional Dimensions, John Garcia
Chapter 2: Una Ventaja? A Survey Experiment of the Viability of Latina Candidates, Jessica Lavariega Monforti and Sarah Allen Gershon
Chapter 3: Voter Stereotypes of Latino and Latina Candidates, Ivy A. M. Cargile, Jennifer L. Merolla, and Jean Reith Schroedel
Chapter 4: Latina Legislators in Congress: Assessing the Experiences and Influence of the First Generation of Latina Lawmakers, Walter Clark Wilson and Juan Urbano
Chapter 5: Virtually Shaking Hands and Kissing Babies: Congressional Candidates and Social Media Campaigns, Samantha L. Hernandez
Part 2. State Elections: Political Ascension, Campaigns, Communication, and Governing
Chapter 6: Networked Representation: Latina Legislators on Twitter, Jose Marichal
Chapter 7: Advantage and Disadvantages for Latina Officeholders: The Case of New Mexico, Julia Marin Hellwege and Christine Marie Sierra
Chapter 8: “Liberal Leticia” and the Race for Texas Lieutenant Governor, Sharon A. Navarro
Chapter 9: Latina Political Leaders in Rhode Island: Patterns of Recruitment, Ambition, and Constraint, Lizeth Gonzalez and Tony Affigne
Chapter 10: Latina Intersectionality and Race-Gendering In Texas’ Legislative Process, Patricia D. Lopez
Conclusion

Too often the focus of race or gender political research projects has excluded the political experiences of Latina elected officials. This important collection of cutting-edge research by prominent scholars throughout the nation fills this void. Asking a variety of research questions and utilizing mixed methodological approaches, this anthology helps us understand the political behaviors of Latinas at the national and subnational levels becoming a must-read for anyone who seeks to understand the political behavior of women from the largest ethno-racial group in the nation. It is premised on the belief that in a healthy democracy ‘all points of view and full ranges of talent must be available for public decision-making.’ Further, it underscores how different life experiences matter to the political behaviors and attitudes of Latinas in elected office.